Brought in to provide goals for an offensively challenged team, struggling winger Matt Moulson will likely miss Game 4 of the Wild's playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday with what coach Mike Yeo called "a lower body injury."

Moulson has recorded one goal and two assists through 10 playoff games and was demoted to the third line in Game 3, a 4-0 Wild victory that cut their series deficit to 2-1.

With left wing Matt Cooke returning from a seven-game suspension, the Wild needed to scratch a left winger.

Because left wing Dany Heatley has six points in eight games since being re-inserted into the lineup, and left wing Nino Niederreiter has five points and the two biggest goals of the playoffs, Moulson seemed the likely candidate before his absence from Thursday's practice at Xcel Energy Center.

Yeo said Moulson had been playing through the injury and called this break "a chance to get better."

"He's been battling this here for a little bit," Yeo said. "So hopefully we can use this as an opportunity to get him back."

The Wild acquired Moulson and checker Cody McCormick on March 5, just before the NHL trade deadline, in a deal that sent Torrey Mitchell and two second-round picks to Buffalo.

Moulson recorded six goals and seven assists in 20 regular-season games with Minnesota but has struggled in the playoffs, and at times hasn't seemed able to keep up with some of the faster players on his line.

In practice Thursday, Cooke took Moulson's spot on the third line with center Erik Haula and right wing Justin Fontaine.

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It's unclear how long Moulson will be out.

"He's been battling through it," Yeo said. "So it's an opportunity for us to give a couple days here, at least."